Week 24 - Challenger (€42500) - Aegon Trophy - Ilkley, UK (grass)

indiana · Tennis legend

Week 24 - Challenger (€42500) - Aegon Trophy - Ilkley, UK (grass)

paulisi · Tennis legend

A few years back I seen to remember ITF events were added after Wimbledon - Manchester & Felixstowe? I'm surprised this isn't looked at again although i'm not sure there are enough suitable venues.

RJA · Hall of fame

paulisi wrote:
A few years back I seen to remember ITF events were added after Wimbledon - Manchester & Felixstowe? I'm surprised this isn't looked at again although i'm not sure there are enough suitable venues.

For several years there were 3 grass court futures after Wimbledon (strictly speaking starting the 2nd week of Wimbledon) at a combination of Manchester, Ilkley, Frinton and Felixstowe. Last year they were reduced to 2 (Frinton and Felixstowe) probably because Manchester and Ilkley now had challengers. This year they are gone which is a great pity. Frinton in particular always attracted good crowds.

Shhh · Challenger level

It wasn't that long ago (well approx 10 years I guess) that there were 2 x grass challengers after Wimbledon, Bristol and Manchester.

I also remember Oxford being used as a pre-Grass court futures event so, I dont think the lack of venues is a problem if you WANT to add to the schedule

Robin · Lower Club Player

LTA old boys and their ilk don't want young ruffians interfering with Sunday sandwiches and some jolly good tennis don't you know.

JonH · All-time great

I'm from near Ilkley (Harrogate) and used to play in the Ilkley tournament when it was held in early August and didn't have ranking points. I recall the ilkley pro was a great player called Simon Ickringill who was Yorkshire champion many times and if I remember beat John Alexander, the Australian Dc player one year at another local event in Chapel Allerton, just before Wimbledon. One year Ilkley attracted big sponsorship and it was probably in the early 80's but the event attracted Peter Mcnamara and Vijay Amritaj, jeremy bates played that year and a few other international names. I think the winner received a few thousand pounds and Itv showed highlights of the final weekend with the old terraced centre Court (no longer there) crammed full. Sadly the event fell away again but it was big for a two or three year spell. We also had quite big grass events in Huddersfield (Queens Road), Chapel Allerton and a shale event in Heaton that drew decent fields. Ilkley attracted lots of Dutch and Danish players, I usually entered the junior events, and one year partnered Simon in the handicap doubles, my career highlight!

-- Edited by JonH on Wednesday 3rd of August 2016 07:53:54 PM

JonH · All-time great

I wandered off track then - I was actually answering the point re much more grass tennis in years gone by. In the late 70's and 80's we had events like Kentish Times event in Beckenham, and Surbiton of course. In those days they attracted players like Connors, most of the top Australian players of the day like Mark Edmondson. Serious events as well, not exhibitions like Boodles. Bristol held a main tour Grand Prix event for a few years and I also remember going to Bristol to see GB play Finland in the Davis cup just before Wimbledon. I went on a Saturday and I think Bates and Castle followed by a grass court warm up ahead of Wimbledon for Ivan Lendl playing a pro set against Mark Petchey which Petchey won! I think the DC match was Euro Zone and we won In two days, played same week as Queens just after French.

-- Edited by JonH on Wednesday 3rd of August 2016 09:18:39 PM